Shenzhen, an economic engine in south China's Guangdong Province, realized 237.4 billion U.S. dollars in foreign trade last year, a growth of 29.8 percent over the year-earlier level.

Local customs sources said Monday that this is the first time the city ranked first among major Chinese cities in terms of external trade.

The total trade volume included 136.1 billion U.S. dollars in export value, up 34 percent, and 101.3 billion U.S. dollars in import value, up 24.6 percent.

The exports, making up 14 percent of China's total, placed Shenzhen first among major cities for 14 consecutive years.

In 2006, Shenzhen sold abroad 69.62 billion U.S. dollars worth of new- and high-tech products, or 40 percent of the city's total, and bought from overseas 59.5 billion U.S. dollars worth of such products, or 50 percent of the total.

The exports of new- and high-tech products were 32.3 percent higher than the year-earlier level, while the imports, up 27.5 percent, the customs sources added.

Source:Xinhua